Page 9 - October 2025 - Truth & Tidings

day of testing. words to appear as a threat. But even their
His Religious Trial (14:53-65) testimony could not be made to agree.
“And they led Jesus away” (v53). Two And so, frustrated by the lack of prog-
types of trial would follow: one was ress, and the serene silence of the accused,
Jewish, the other Roman. The first was the high priest eventually appealed di-
Religious, the second Civil. Both were in rectly to his prisoner, “Art thou the Christ,
three stages. the Son of the Blessed?” (Mar 14:61). This
His religious trial began with a prelimi- was presented in terms which compelled
nary hearing before Annas (Joh 18:12-13). the Lord to give an answer (Mat 26:63).
He was then sent “bound unto Caiaphas Was He the Messiah? Was He God’s
the high priest” (v24). Son? The Lord answered in the affirma-
Caiaphas, meanwhile, had gathered tive, “I am,” adding that they would “see
together in an upper room of his palace the Son of man sitting on the right hand of
“all the chief priests and the elders and power, and coming in the clouds of heav-
the scribes” necessary to legitimise a trial en” (v62). Well versed in the Scriptures,
(Mar 14:53). Caiaphas, believing Jesus to they recognised the references to Psalm
be in his power, was acting with haste to 110 and Daniel 7, and they understood
achieve his desired end. A verdict before the implications of His claim. In these few
sunrise meant the case could be rushed to words, He affirmed that He was the Mes-
Pilate, who had legal authority to crucify siah, the Son of God, and the Son of Man
the prisoner. who would be exalted to God’s right hand
The Sanhedrin members acted as pros- and manifested in glory at His coming.
ecutors rather than impartial judges, seek- Caiaphas’ response showed how he in-
ing “for witness against Jesus to put him terpreted the Lord’s claims. By tearing his
to death” (v55). They had one intention: clothes and declaring, “Ye have heard the
finding evidence to support a death sen- blasphemy” (vv63-64), he revealed that he
tence. But even though Matthew declares regarded the Lord to be claiming equal-
that they deliberately “sought false wit- ity with God (compare Joh 5:17-18). “And
ness against Jesus” (26:59), and Mark tells they all condemned him to be guilty of
us that “many bare false witness against death” (v64). Unleashed by a unanimous
him,” yet no testimony was valid because
“their witness agreed not together” (Mar guilty verdict, the wickedness of their
14:56). Despite their efforts, nothing could hearts was revealed. All dignity was laid
be found to achieve their aim. aside as these religious leaders spat upon,
Finally, some testified that He had blindfolded, punched and mocked the
said, “I will destroy this temple that is One who was truly the Son of the Blessed.
made with hands, and within three days The term “Blessed” used by Caiaphas as
I will build another made without hands” a substitute for God’s Name (v61) means
(v58). This was inaccurate. Speaking of the “one well-spoken of.” It is surely a state-
temple of His body, He had said, “Destroy ment of the deep depravity of the human
this temple, and in three days I will raise it heart that, while claiming to speak well of
up” (Joh 2:19). Even allowing for genuine God, these religious leaders were making
confusion about the temple, they deliber- every effort to falsely accuse and destroy
ately testified falsely by manipulating His His Son.

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